rich man well educated, became famous as a soldier wrote over 90 plays but only 7 have survived.
Euripedes - Defeated Sophocles in the contest, Considered the most powerful of all dramatists
Sophocles- defeats Aeschylus in a contest, also served in the Military
Tragedy
- usually centered on the suffering of a major character and ends in disastor. Usually written in three parts, Trilogy. Based on Greek myths. Page 666
Oedipus Trilogy -
Oedipus, Oedipus at Colonious and Antigone
Oedipus - The parents were told that their child would kill the father and marry his mother. They tried to have Oedipus killed but he was saved and adopted. He was presented with a riddle from the Syphinx. The oracles prediction comes true. He kills his father and marrys his mother Jocasta. They have 4 children. Jocasta commits suicide when she finds out, and Oedipus blinds himself. Antigone is his daughter. She leads him off to exile.
Antigone starts off with the death of Antigones' brothers, Polynesis has rebeled against Creon and his body is left in the fiels to rot. Antigone stands up and says he will receive a proper burial.
Antigone
The Play
Home work assignment - Antigone's stance give reasons for actions. p 672
Antigone tells Ismene of her plans to bury their brother Polynices in defiance of Creon’s orders. When Ismene refuses to join her sister, pleading their weakness as women and subjects of Creon, Antigone leaves her angrily, determined to bury her brother, even if it means her own death.
The chorus of elders enters, chanting a song celebrating the recent Theban victory.
Creon enters, assuring the elders of Thebes that the city is now safe and pledging to keep it so under his leadership. He formally announces his intention to bury Eteocles with honor and leave Polynices unburied. When Creon hears that someone has performed a simple ritual burial for Polynices, he becomes furious, accuses the sentry of taking bribes, and demands that those responsible be brought to him.
The elders chant an ode in praise of man, who is powerful over all things except death.
A sentry brings Antigone to Creon, retelling how he and his men wiped the corpse clean of the dust from the first burial rite and then how they caught Antigone trying to bury Polynices again. Antigone proudly proclaims her guilt to Creon, but also declares that the king had no authority to forbid burial. In disobeying Creon, Antigone claims obedience to a higher law.
The attendants drag Ismene before Creon. When she claims to have helped in the burial, Antigone denies that her sister had any role in the rebellious act. Ismene pleads with Creon to spare her sister’s life for the sake of his son Haemon, who is engaged to marry Antigone. Creon refuses and announces his intention to execute Antigone for disobeying his order.
The elders sing an ode affirming the power of the gods over people, from generation to generation, as in the family of Oedipus.
Creon’s son, Haemon, reasons with his father to change his mind and free Antigone in order to avoid offending those citizens who side with her. Creon rejects his son’s advice fiercely and threatens to kill Antigone right in front of him. Haemon leaves, declaring that Creon will never see him again. Alone, Creon tells the chorus that he will let Ismene go, but he intends to wall An
The chorus of elders chants an ode to the power of love, represented by the mighty goddess Aphrodite.
tigone up alive, to die of starvation.
Antigone anticipates her approaching death by singing her own funeral dirge, and the chorus wonders if Oedipus’ sins condemned his daughter to her fate.
Before Creon orders the guards to take her away to her death, Antigone reflects on her decision to bury her brother and its sad consequences.
The elders chant an ode about heroes and heroines who endured terrible punishments at the hands of Fate.
Tiresias warns Creon that the gods disapprove of the desecration of Polynices’ corpse and will punish him with the death of his own son, Haemon. Creon dismisses Tiresias in anger, accusing him, like the sentry, of taking bribes, but declares his determination to bury Polynices and free Antigone.
The elders rejoice at Creon’s decision in a paean, or joyful song, to Dionysus.
messenger announces that Antigone has hanged herself and that Haemon, agonized at her death, has also killed himself. On hearing the news, Eurydice, the queen, retreats into the palace where she, too, kills herself after cursing her husband, Creon. Mourning his wife and son, Creon blames himself for all the tragedy that has occurred and prays that his life will end soon.
Antigone Written by Sophocles
Greek WritersAeschylus-
rich man well educated, became famous as a soldier wrote over 90 plays but only 7 have survived.
Euripedes - Defeated Sophocles in the contest, Considered the most powerful of all dramatists
Sophocles- defeats Aeschylus in a contest, also served in the Military
Tragedy
- usually centered on the suffering of a major character and ends in disastor. Usually written in three parts, Trilogy. Based on Greek myths.Page 666
Oedipus Trilogy -
Oedipus, Oedipus at Colonious and Antigone
Oedipus - The parents were told that their child would kill the father and marry his mother. They tried to have Oedipus killed but he was saved and adopted. He was presented with a riddle from the Syphinx. The oracles prediction comes true. He kills his father and marrys his mother Jocasta. They have 4 children. Jocasta commits suicide when she finds out, and Oedipus blinds himself. Antigone is his daughter. She leads him off to exile.
Antigone starts off with the death of Antigones' brothers, Polynesis has rebeled against Creon and his body is left in the fiels to rot. Antigone stands up and says he will receive a proper burial.
Antigone
The PlayHome work assignment - Antigone's stance give reasons for actions. p 672
Antigone tells Ismene of her plans to bury their brother Polynices in defiance of Creon’s orders. When Ismene refuses to join her sister, pleading their weakness as women and subjects of Creon, Antigone leaves her angrily, determined to bury her brother, even if it means her own death.
The chorus of elders enters, chanting a song celebrating the recent Theban victory.
Creon enters, assuring the elders of Thebes that the city is now safe and pledging to keep it so under his leadership. He formally announces his intention to bury Eteocles with honor and leave Polynices unburied. When Creon hears that someone has performed a simple ritual burial for Polynices, he becomes furious, accuses the sentry of taking bribes, and demands that those responsible be brought to him.
The elders chant an ode in praise of man, who is powerful over all things except death.
A sentry brings Antigone to Creon, retelling how he and his men wiped the corpse clean of the dust from the first burial rite and then how they caught Antigone trying to bury Polynices again. Antigone proudly proclaims her guilt to Creon, but also declares that the king had no authority to forbid burial. In disobeying Creon, Antigone claims obedience to a higher law.
The attendants drag Ismene before Creon. When she claims to have helped in the burial, Antigone denies that her sister had any role in the rebellious act. Ismene pleads with Creon to spare her sister’s life for the sake of his son Haemon, who is engaged to marry Antigone. Creon refuses and announces his intention to execute Antigone for disobeying his order.
The elders sing an ode affirming the power of the gods over people, from generation to generation, as in the family of Oedipus.
Creon’s son, Haemon, reasons with his father to change his mind and free Antigone in order to avoid offending those citizens who side with her. Creon rejects his son’s advice fiercely and threatens to kill Antigone right in front of him. Haemon leaves, declaring that Creon will never see him again. Alone, Creon tells the chorus that he will let Ismene go, but he intends to wall An
The chorus of elders chants an ode to the power of love, represented by the mighty goddess Aphrodite.
tigone up alive, to die of starvation.
Antigone anticipates her approaching death by singing her own funeral dirge, and the chorus wonders if Oedipus’ sins condemned his daughter to her fate.
Before Creon orders the guards to take her away to her death, Antigone reflects on her decision to bury her brother and its sad consequences.
The elders chant an ode about heroes and heroines who endured terrible punishments at the hands of Fate.
Tiresias warns Creon that the gods disapprove of the desecration of Polynices’ corpse and will punish him with the death of his own son, Haemon. Creon dismisses Tiresias in anger, accusing him, like the sentry, of taking bribes, but declares his determination to bury Polynices and free Antigone.
The elders rejoice at Creon’s decision in a paean, or joyful song, to Dionysus.
messenger announces that Antigone has hanged herself and that Haemon, agonized at her death, has also killed himself. On hearing the news, Eurydice, the queen, retreats into the palace where she, too, kills herself after cursing her husband, Creon. Mourning his wife and son, Creon blames himself for all the tragedy that has occurred and prays that his life will end soon.